(no subject)
I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather today (high 89 and sunny, with little humidity) and go for a bike ride.
I am a fairly new beginner at this whole bike riding thing. The furthest I have gone so far was about 8 miles, round trip. That usually takes me about a half hour or so.
Today, I decided to go a new route, since I was bored with my other one. Heading off, I turned in the opposite direction, and went down to a park near the Huron River, in Ypsilanti (I usually head towards Ann Arbor).
In the park, I parked my bike and went down under the bridge. It was so relaxing and beautiful! While under there, I took a picture of the burbling river.
While I took that first picture, my camera died. I was rather sad about this, but life goes on. So, I packed up my stuff, and headed on.
Heading out of the park, I arrived on Michigan Ave (for those of you who know this area...sorry for those who don't) and rode deeper into Ypsilanti, and stayed on that street for a while, until I veered off a side street. So far, so good. Michigan Ave was very hilly (most of it uphill for me) but that was fun.
Soon, I came to a little parkish place off of a side street, and I decided to explore down there. There was a sign that pointed towards Michigan Watershed, and Frog Island (the park that I originally came from). Deciding to take MI watershed, I head off. The paved trail quickly turns into a very steep and narrow gravel trail...with a lot of broken beer bottles on it.
I turned my bike around and carried it back down the trail about the half mile, since I didn't want to ruin my tires. Feeling tired by this point, I decided to take the trail marked "Frog Island" and head back home.
While going down this trail, I came to a beautiful bridge.
On this bridge I met this really funny, ecentric lady who was insisting that a huge spider was on it, and that it was going to get us.
I did take a picture of a spider web, but I don't know if you will be able to see it...I didn't know how to focus in on the web, and now the river.
After leaving this bridge behind, I ride for another mile or so, until quite abruptly, the trail ends! Where was frog island, and WHERE in the world was I?!
Apparently, I was at a hobo's little hideaway. He/She was also apparently patriotic, since that's a flag hanging there from the tree...
At this point, I am exhausted. Remember, I am only used to 8 mile bike rides...this had turned into around 15 miles at this point, with about a half mile to a mile of it with me carrying my bike.
Off into the distance, I could see a main road, so I decided to ride my bike through the weeds to get there. About halfway there, the trail picked up again! Once I got to the main road, however, my heart fell as I realized that the end of the trail was gated and locked.
Crap.
There was NO WAY I was going to ride the entire way back!
So, I decided to improvise. I started walking in the weeds, next to the fence until I came to an area that was broken. I threw my bike over (I must be super woman by now) and then jumped over.
Heading back to my apt. was without mishap, since I now knew where I was. With the misleading trail sign, and having to back track a few times, along with the rest of the ride, I probably traveled at LEAST 22 miles, but I would say closer to 25.
I did that all in an hour and a half. :)
And now I hurt, and am very tired.
*edit* I figured it out, and it was only 13.84 miles.
I am a fairly new beginner at this whole bike riding thing. The furthest I have gone so far was about 8 miles, round trip. That usually takes me about a half hour or so.
Today, I decided to go a new route, since I was bored with my other one. Heading off, I turned in the opposite direction, and went down to a park near the Huron River, in Ypsilanti (I usually head towards Ann Arbor).
In the park, I parked my bike and went down under the bridge. It was so relaxing and beautiful! While under there, I took a picture of the burbling river.
While I took that first picture, my camera died. I was rather sad about this, but life goes on. So, I packed up my stuff, and headed on.
Heading out of the park, I arrived on Michigan Ave (for those of you who know this area...sorry for those who don't) and rode deeper into Ypsilanti, and stayed on that street for a while, until I veered off a side street. So far, so good. Michigan Ave was very hilly (most of it uphill for me) but that was fun.
Soon, I came to a little parkish place off of a side street, and I decided to explore down there. There was a sign that pointed towards Michigan Watershed, and Frog Island (the park that I originally came from). Deciding to take MI watershed, I head off. The paved trail quickly turns into a very steep and narrow gravel trail...with a lot of broken beer bottles on it.
I turned my bike around and carried it back down the trail about the half mile, since I didn't want to ruin my tires. Feeling tired by this point, I decided to take the trail marked "Frog Island" and head back home.
While going down this trail, I came to a beautiful bridge.
On this bridge I met this really funny, ecentric lady who was insisting that a huge spider was on it, and that it was going to get us.
I did take a picture of a spider web, but I don't know if you will be able to see it...I didn't know how to focus in on the web, and now the river.
After leaving this bridge behind, I ride for another mile or so, until quite abruptly, the trail ends! Where was frog island, and WHERE in the world was I?!
Apparently, I was at a hobo's little hideaway. He/She was also apparently patriotic, since that's a flag hanging there from the tree...
At this point, I am exhausted. Remember, I am only used to 8 mile bike rides...this had turned into around 15 miles at this point, with about a half mile to a mile of it with me carrying my bike.
Off into the distance, I could see a main road, so I decided to ride my bike through the weeds to get there. About halfway there, the trail picked up again! Once I got to the main road, however, my heart fell as I realized that the end of the trail was gated and locked.
Crap.
There was NO WAY I was going to ride the entire way back!
So, I decided to improvise. I started walking in the weeds, next to the fence until I came to an area that was broken. I threw my bike over (I must be super woman by now) and then jumped over.
Heading back to my apt. was without mishap, since I now knew where I was. With the misleading trail sign, and having to back track a few times, along with the rest of the ride, I probably traveled at LEAST 22 miles, but I would say closer to 25.
I did that all in an hour and a half. :)
And now I hurt, and am very tired.
*edit* I figured it out, and it was only 13.84 miles.